Bicycle-saddle



(No Model.)

R. BEAN.

BICYCLE SADDLE.

No. 341,547. Patented May 11, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROSCOE BEAN, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

BICYCLE-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,547, dated May 1l, 1836.

Application filed May 1Q, 1885. Serial No. 165,220. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: A represents thc backbone or perch of an Be it known that I, ROsCOE BEAN, a citizen ordinary bicycle, which is attached to the head` of the United States, residing at Springfield, B in the usual manner, and constitutes no 55 in the county of Clark and Sta-te of Ohio, have part of my invention, which relates solely to 5 invented certain new and useful Improvethe construction of the saddle and the method ments in Bicycle-Saddles, of which the follow- ,of attaching it to the vehicle. ing is a specification, reference being had The seat or saddle proper, C, consists of a therein to the accompanying drawings. sheet of leather, which may be of the usual 5o My invention relates to an improvement in saddle form, as shown in Fig. 2. Underneath bicyclesaddles, the object being to provide a the leather is a strong canvas saddle similar light and elastic saddle which will adapt itin form and of suitable size, which is securely self to the movements of the rider and the fastened to the leather seat by stitching or motions of the vehicle in such manner as will other suitable methods. rIhis prevents the 65 in the greatest degree contribute to the ease leather from stretching and sagging, thereby [5 and comfort of the operator and at the same preserving the proper degree of tautness. time be compact and durable. The forward end of the saddle is narrowed to A further object of the invention is also to the form of a strap, which is passed over the produce a saddle that will Vnot be liable to the top of the supporting-post aand back through 7o derangementof parts that is common to many the loop in same and fastened securely by rivof the so-called adjustable saddles. efsor otliersuitable fasteuings. The rear part My invention further consists in the con-- V0f the saddle is turned over the curved rib struction of a curved oval saddle-rib adapted G and securely fastened thereto. to form a support to the rear part of the seat The supportingspring D is from preference 75 and to oscillate vertically with the upward made of one piece of wire, as shown in Fig.

or downward movement of the saddle. 3, the upper end of each coil terminating in It also relates to the novel method of conan outward curve, forming a short trunnion, structing the supportingspring and the manwhich is inserted in asuitable eye,f, attached ner of connecting the same to the curved sadvto the under side of rib G, as shown in Figs. 8c dle-rib and to the backbone or perch of the 3 and 5, and is held in position by means of bicycle the lug c, as shown in Figs. tand 5. The for- Another object of my invention is the conward eu'd of thesnpporting spring D is adaptstruction of a bicycle-saddle seat in such ed to fit in a suitable housing provided for it manner as to prevent stretching or sagging, in bei; E of the saddle-head or front support, 8 5 thereby dispensing with complicated appliwhich is from preference made in one piece,

3 5 ances for taking up slack. Vith these ends and consists, asa whole, of box E, connectingin view I construct a flexible/seat or saddle, plate d, and upright standard a, as shown in which is attached in a permanent manner to Fig. 1. the backbone or perch of the vehicle; but the The advantages derived from thus making 9o construction and arrangements of part-s are the entire saddle-headin one piece are obvious,

4o such that the saddle is self-adjusting, which since it thereby prevents the liability of the will hereinafter be more fully described. derangement ot' parts that might otherwise Referring to the accompanying drawings, occur. which form a part of this specitication,Fig Thesupporting-springDmaybe made ofsep- 95 ure l represents a side elevation of a portion -arate wires, thereby constituting two springs;

of a bicycle having my saddle mounted therebut, as previously stated, is from preference on. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. made of one piece, as shown in Fig. 3,with the Fig. 3 is a plan view of the saddle in an infront end doubled and bent upon itself. The verted position. Fig. 4 is an end elevation opposite ends, extending back and diverging Ito of an inverted cross section of the curved from each other, are attached to the curved 5o saddle-rib with aV section of the spring atsaddle-rib in the manner described, thus fornitached. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same. in g a hinge.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, It will be observed that I employ a long spring, extending forward under the saddle to a point in front of the center', which is for the purpose of securing great flexibility, thus greatly increasing the elasticity of the seat. Box E is adapted to lit transverselyvon the backbone or perch, and is also adapted to engage with clip H, which is adapted to fit in like manner on the under side of the backbone, and is connected with boXE by means of bolts, thus securely holding` thesaddle'head and sup portingspring in place. The front part ofthe saddlehead is adapted to be attached to the forward partof the backbone A, and is secured by a bolt which passes through the head laterally, as shown in Fig. l. The upright supporting-post a is pivoted to the forward end of the backbone close to the head. It will therefore be readily seen that with this construction the pivotal point of the supporting post is brought into close proximity to the steeringhead. The position of the post being vertical the weight is thereby thrown squarely upon the point best adapted to support it; and, furthermore, this construction is compact, light, strong, and in no way liable to getout of order.

In all classes o1" bicycle-seats called flexible, when the rider is mounted on his seat his weight causes the center of the saddle to sink more or less, and when passing over rough ground or coming in contact with an obstacle the sudden jar or bounce greatly increases this tendency; hence it will readily be seen that if the curved saddle-rib under the rear part of the seat be stationary or in a rigid position the sinking ofthe center ofthe saddle will cause the ends 0f the curved rib to become uucom` fortably prominent,and the rougher the ground the more they protrude. lo overcome this serious defect is one of the pri me objects of my invention, which is successfully accomplished by the employment of the curved adjustable l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l rib G, which, being hinged to the supportingspring D in the manner described, is adapted to oscillate with the motions of the rider and conforms strictly to his form and movements, which, together with the long flexible spring D, provides the greatly-desired feature in a bicyclesaddle-viz., an easy elastic seat that conforms to the form and motions of the rider under all circumstances.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim isl. The combination, with a treeless bicyclesaddle, of a. non-yielding support secured to the front or nose thereof and secured directly tothe back bone,and provided with a rearward extension terminating in a clip, and an independent yielding support secured to the rear ofthe saddle, passing forward and secured to the backbone by said clip.

2. The combination, with a treeless bicyclesaddle, of a nonyielding support secured to the front or nose thereof and to the backbone, and having a rearward extension terminating 4 iu a clip which elnbraces the backbone, a me tallic segment secured to the rear end of the saddle, and a spring whose ends connect with the said segment and whose forward portion is held tothe backbone by the said clip.

3. In a bicycle-saddle, a saddle-support consisting ofan uliiwardly-extending member having an aperture for attacli ment to and divided so as to embrace the backbone, and forminga support for the nose of the saddle, and of a rearwardly-extending member terminatingin a clip adapted to embrace the backbone.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROSCOE BEAN.

Vil'nesses:

Guo. A. Balm), Jas, S. BocLn. 

